I've been away....

Which is why it is so long since I posted.

BUT - I'm still doing the same old things.... becoming more addicted to more crafts.

Ok, so - I've been working on a sadly neglected project - a gansey sweater for me. Liz Lovick is a great lady who runs some online workshops through a couple groups. She did a Shetland Lace workshop, and a Gansey workshop. Very talented lady. Excellent teacher. Wonderful person.

Also, I'm starting another shawl (like I don't have several UFO shawls, as well as WIM shawls). A knit along, though I'm pretty far behind - I'm on (starting) clue three, and clue four is finished by many others....

I'm also working on socks - trying not to start new ones, but I did. I have several paris on needles, so in a way, I can't really start new ones until I empty a few needles.... but, we came home from holiday for a couple days, do laundry etc. and I didn't bring the current WIPs home, thought I could work on some UFO's.... instead, I managed to cast on again.... *sigh*

But, the other socks I'm doing - well, I am using the Easter egg dyed yarn. Wanted to try it out, see what I could do.... Am finally doing an "afterthought" heel, too. So far, I did the thing where I used waste yarn for half a round. Then, because I'm impatient... I pulled out the waste yarn, and put the stitches onto stitch holders. Besides, I wanted to be able to try on the sock, so I'd know when to start the toe decrease. Well, the stitch holders weren't such a great idea for that job.... So, last night, I finished up some yarn on another project, and had about a yard left - which I used to hold the heel-hole on the sock. That is, I used the yarn like a lifeline, putting the live stitches onto it rather than the stitch holders.

As for that yarn - I bought some "promo yarn" from a grocery store here - over the past few years, they have, after Christmas (hitting the "guilt" shoppers? the ones that said they should make gifts for 'next year'? ) they bring in special order type pounder balls of "Phentex" brand acrylic yarns and Bernat Handicrafter cotton in big balls (not quite pounds, but still, big balls). Well, this year, instead of known name brands, they brought in this "promo yarn" stuff. Now, you *do* get what you pay for..... I bought the "kits" they were selling for baby - there was: a cicular knitting needle, (not bad quality) a crochet hook, a yarn needle (darning needle), two balls of acrylic baby/fingering yarn, and two balls of acrylic baby boucle yarn, for ten bucks. This is what I've used lately for those rush baby gifts I've been making. Anyway - I paid full price for one of them - and bought two more when they came on clearance sale.

Mostly, the yarn was fine. Nice to work with. But, there were some knots. Oh, and I should mention, that the included "pattern" for a baby sweater and a baby blanket, that were printed on the cardboard insert in the kit, will make great kindling for starting campfires..... But, back to the yarn. I actually liked the yarn.

So, when they had the balls of regular acrylic on clearance (100 g balls, regular price $2.99 - not great, truthfully) for $.44 cents a ball - I grabbed several. Planned to try to get a granny square afghan. So, I bought two balls of pink (for centers) four balls of red (hoping to have enough for next rounds) and six balls of white (final rounds and joining). Well, I got 26 centers from one ball of pink, with about a yard or so leftover. I did three rounds of the granny in pink....then I started the next rounds on some of the squares - I did three rounds of red around the pink. Ok, I'm rambling a bit here.... I have a total of 30 pink centers now. And three of them have red around them..... I hope I don't run out of red before I finish, since there is no more yarn at the store.... But, if I do, then I'll have a few scrappy squares in my pink-red-white afghan.

All of this, to point out... That while I did/do have a piece of scrap yarn for waste yarn duties in my little tool tin, it really didn't show up well with the Easter Egg dyed yarn - bright fuschia-y pink yarn blends with bright Easter Egg coloured yarn.... The lighter pink yarn that I'm using in the granny squares contrasts much better :)

So - those are the main projects. EE socks, Gansey sweater, Granny squares, Buggy Pi shawl. THEN - there is, a latch hook that I am working on kind of. One that I found - mentioned it before - when cleaning the craft room. UFO type. I was going to work on it and finish it, but Mica and Ashleigh seem to think that I need plenty of help whenever I work on it. So, I don't get very long sessions in - start while they are napping or birdwatching, but have to give it up when they become too interested.... So, it is slow going. But I *do* plan to finish it. It won't languish as a UFO anymore.....

THEN - there is the part where...well.... I was reading some posts on a crochet group focussing on working on mini critters.... they were all talking about this "needle punch thread" or needle punch embroidery thread that they use sometimes. Well. I've heard of needle punch embroidery. Of course I have - been around for ages. Not something I ever got into, don't know why. Probably just one of those things that - I dunno - never got around to picking up. Nothing really against it.... I think, expense, though, at one time. Seemed like something that you had to buy special tool, special equipment, special kits...etc. etc. etc.

Anyway - all this talk about the "needle punch thread" lately - figured it must be a recurring craft, and not too sure what was special about the thread, made a trip to Michaels to see what I could see.... Saw the kits, the tools.... had a 40% coupon.... hm. affordable. kitty.

Turns out the thread is ordinary 6 ply embroidery thread (DMC cotton, Anchor, J&P Coats all produce this stuff - as well as some generic brands). Of course, I had to get the kitty kit, and the tool, and had to decide that needlepunch embroidery is kind of fun..... Adding a new one to my repetoire....

Also..... Ok, this is one that crept up on me. Way back, way way back, when I was little little. I've said it before....my mother taught me to knit, to latch hook, to embroider, and to weave. She bought me little needlework kits - I remember a plastic basket, cheapy plastic knitting needles, plastic crochet hook, yarn, and knitting knobby or corking tool. Never did figure out the corking.... I also remember, maybe as part of the same "kit", maybe separate (here memory fades some - things run together sometimes) were looms. Nothing fancy - in fact, I think these days they are called "pot holder looms" (maybe they were then, but what four/five year old reads or cares?) . Basically, we're talking, four pieces of plastic that had pegs along one long edge, holes along the bottom half, and could be joined together into a square, then you wind yarn back and forth around the pegs on two opposite sides, and wove through them. The holes were so that you could adjust the size of the square (or rectangle) you wove.

After she had taught me latch hook, I used the loom pieces to make my own background to latch yarn pieces onto, to make my own pictures.

Anyway..... Fast forward to recent years. I've learned to spin. I've made some real-world as well as cyber-world contacts in spinning. Met others who spin. Met others who knit....one of these people also weaves. She showed me her full-sized looms. Told me that if I wasn't already addicted to weaving, that I should avoid it - expense and all that.

Like waving a carrot in front of a hungry donkey......

*sigh*. Well. Of course, I did the usual internet wandering.... She was right, of course. Looms are definitely high priced toys. But they are also fairly simple machines..... made mostly of wood. I even joined a Yahoo group not long ago for weaving. To learn more about looms. Then there are things like Inkle looms, and table top looms. Still pricey, but even simpler. Buildable, even..... All I needed was some wood.....

Or, better yet, to be on the computer at the right time.

Freecycle. I now own a table top loom. :)

Well - this post is getting long - I better let it go for now. Besides, I need to do some cleaning of the house, so I can find something suitable in my stash for warping a loom!! :D

Bugs of all kinds....

I'll start with Bugs In My Garden Mystery Pi Knit Along....

It is a mystery, because there are only patterns posted at intervals, on the EZasPi Yahoo group. I believe they are up to clue three having been posted - I downloaded them, but have only printed the first batch so far. Essentially, the Pi shawl, from Elizabeth Zimmerman, is knit from the center out, doubling stitches every time you double rows. And, if you scroll back through my archives, or if you've been reading my blog for a while, or if you check my photo album, you'll see my first Pi shawl - done mostly from EZ's pattern - in red. I still haven't blocked the thing - but now that summer is (mostly) here again, I'll try to get it done soon. It is so big, I'll have to dry it outdoors. Anyway - there was a garden mystery pi last year, but I didn't get very far on that one - same idea. Each section that increases, there is an appropriate selection of lace patterns to do in the section. But there is more than one choice, on a theme. This one being, of course, Bugs In My Garden. So - there are buggy patterns and lace patterns. For the smallest repeat - a 6 row repeat, among the choices were "peas" and "traditional ladybug". So, since they were both 6 stitch repeats, and I couldn't decide, I did both :) For the 12 row section, I wanted to try combining things, too, but it didn't work out...so I just did some petals. And that is how far along clue one goes - though there are more lace patterns than the ones I picked....

I rather like how the petals created a sort of star pattern...

Now, for another kind of "bug"....

It all started when I decided that since the last few pairs of socks I've finished, as well as most of the ones that are more or less UFO's are lacey types for me, that I'd better get on with knitting DH a pair or two.... So.... Since I'd seen someone's sharing a picture of their Horcrux socks from the six sox group, done in a new-to-me and reasonably new anyway yarn... I had fallen in love with the colour, and my LYS is carrying that brand/type of yarn...

So... the bug, or the yarn? Well, the yarn is Fabel, from Garn Studio. I glanced at the label when I bought it - 75% Superwash, 25% polyamide... Didn't give it much thought. Figured it was wool.... I was knitting the two socks at once on two circs, no special pattern, since it is a self striping/patterning yarn. Re-read the label... it said, it was "alpaca/camelia/safran"... luxury!!!! No wonder I was loving this yarn :) Though, I didn't know what a "safran" was, and I don't know the exact percent of combination - but at least, the Garn website seems to indicate that "safran" is cotton.... and there can't be much of that in there, 'cause this yarn is WAY to soft and nice to be cotton....

The bug? You'd think I didn't have any complaints about the socks, since I love the yarn. Well, I do.... It is a "pet peeve" of mine.... but.... let's start at the start.

When the self patterning yarns first became the "rage" - I bought some Kroy Jacquard. In blue. Figured I'd make them for DH. I went to the trouble of pulling out and starting the second sock (did them on dpns) at as close as humanly possible to the same spot in the yarn as the first. Knit away, everything fine.... (no pic, btw - will have to snag them again someday from his sock drawer and take one) until I got to the toe area.... there was a factory knot in the yarn. Not a tangle, a knot, where the yarn had ended, and was tied together. I pulled for a bit.... wondered... figured, Ok, Kroy is a name brand with some history.... the knotted area was in a section of black and white spotted... figured, they have to have made some effort.....

The colour pattern wasn't followed - so, I have a pair of socks that almost match, except the toes are very different.

Next, I used some Socks That Rock merino handpaint... Now, I understand about hand painted yarn. There are some variations. Fine. But - if you look at them (Rhodonite) in my photo album (link on the right hand side, socks album) you will see they are very different....

Another six sox pattern, done in a yarn that came in a 100 gram ball - so, two socks at the same time wasn`t an option for me - again, I didn`t worry about them starting at the same point - they match. Title in sock album is simply 6sox.

The next pair - Kroy self Striping. Green. Same dyelot.... didn`t worry about it. Didn`t care if they matched. They did - except that one is solid, the other one has speckles. Pretty Petal socks...

Took another chance on Kroy Jacquard - since I`d already bought it. Again, couldn`t be bothered matching start point.... the socks matched. Pic is in album....

SO - here I am, with a self striping from Garnstudio. Thinking about how the first pair I made for DH didn`t match, despite my best efforts and frustration, and how much he loved them, and didn`t care the toes didn`t match. (gotta love that guy - he just appreciates handknit socks -doen`t care about colour or pattern!) So, I figured, the heck with it. Seems to work out better if I leave the yarn to it`s own devises....

I took a picture before I started the toe. I knew the timing was, that I would finish the socks, and he`d snag them immediately, so I figured I was better off taking the picture almost finished...

Anyway - you can see the yarn, that I did center pull on both, that I knitted them at the same time.... and you can see my pet peeve. This seems to happen with many brands, many qualities. I`ve had it happen with Red Heart Acrylic variegateds and ombres alike.... Yes, same dye lots where applicable....

So... Can you see in this picture why I am wondering if I should continue to buy and bother with self striping or self patterning yarns????? (not to mention, all the self yarns that I already own in my stash right now....)

Leave me a comment - let me know if you can see what the problem is/was. If not, then I`ll try to tell you all later.... will be away most of next week, so don`t know how much time I`ll have....

Oh, and if anyone knows how to undo it when the keyboard suddenly decides on it`s own to change - let me know that, too.... I was typing away just fine, then suddenly all the extra characters get screwed up... you know, like the apostrophe isn`t where it should be, now I get this french accent (can`t recall from highschool a million years ago if it is ague or grave)

In the meantime...here`s a picture I snapped the other day of Lady Ashleigh... yes, that *is* a cat bed :)

Didnt' think it was that long....

Since I posted last.... Oh, well....


So. Been crazy weather - was nice, then went rainy, then nice again. Saw a cool sort of thing yesterday -


We have these huge trees in our yard. Heard some crows fly by, land in one of the trees. Now, crows (aka buzzards in these parts - they are scavengers, not to mention, noisy) are not something that I normally would take the trouble to look at. I don't like them much. But, for some reason, I looked....


They were chasing an owl. A beautiful owl - not sure of the type, but it might be a great grey. Maybe.... don't quote me on that! Will need to look it up sometime... I looked it up - It was an Eastern Screech Owl. Beautiful critter.... one of the predators of it is crows.... and this is nesting/baby time.... sad....:( I found info about it at:

http://www.owlpages.com/owls.php?genus=Megascops&species=asio


Anyway, don't know what started it, but about half a dozen crows were flying after this poor owl, who had stopped to rest at the top of the tree. The crows landed near it, swearing at it all the time. Flapping their big black wings, hopping around. After a few minutes (not enough time to grab a camera, but enough to call the husband to come look) the owl took flight again, with the nasty crows after it. I didn't see from where, but I did see a second owl flying with the first....



Also, before the rains came, I finished knitting a pair of socks. Called Lilac socks. I wanted to take a picture of them outside, so I had to wait for the rains to stop, and the sun to shine again.












Oh, did I mention, that my lilac bush is in bud? :)
Besides the socks, I was also playing with more Easter egg dye:
I took lots of pictures of this skein, but am only going to post a few here - need to resize the others.... I wound it into a ball, and took a picture of the two balls side by side.



















The picture of the two together is a little fuzzy.... not as bright as I thought it would turn out, either... might try a retake. I mean, I haven't knitted these into anything yet.... they are too pretty as is, lol....

I still have two more plans to egg dye.... first, though, I need a piece of pegboard. Then, when that is done, I can do the second....

And, I figured, that since I've been making so many socks for me lately (lace type patterns) that I would take a bit of a break, and make some for DH. So, even though I had other projects planned to do after the Horcrux and the Lilac socks, I started socks for him on Sunday. Am turning the heels later today/tonight. I think.... half done the heel flap....doing two at once on two circs....